The new ?200 set-top box that lets you watch seven days of TV for free
Its backers claim it will 'change the way we view television forever'.
A ?200 set-top box will let viewers pause live TV, access the internet and watch a week's worth of programmes with just a few touches of a button.
YouView is billed as a successor to the Freeview box that most homes now use to access digital television.
On demand: Popular TV shows like EastEnders will be available on the channel
It is the result of a partnership between BT, BBC, ITV, BT, Channel 4, Five and TalkTalk, each of which has put in ?18million to cover the first four years of operation.
But critics and competitors yesterday said the BBC should not be using public money to position itself as a leading player in the next generation of internet and television technology.
Sky accused the corporation of expanding beyond its remit and said YouView was 'nothing short of mission creep', while Virgin Media lodged a complaint to regulator Ofcom complaining that the project was anti-competitive.
YouView chief executive Richard Halton hit back claiming the scheme provided consumers with an alternative to satellite television and would 'change the way we watch TV forever'.
He said: 'YouView is for those who decided not to pay [for a subscription service], or cannot afford to pay.
'For them to have a really fantastic subscription-free option to access catch-up services and on demand is as important as basic Freeview was in the past.'
The boxes are expected to be on sale as early as next summer.
They will be sold either on a standalone basis or as part of a package by internet service providers.
Viewers will be able to watch programmes from the main broadcasters' catch up services - BBC iPlayer, ITV.com and 4OD - on their TV set, rather than in front of a computer.
They will also be able to shop online and download music from their living rooms.
An electronic programme guide similar to that used on Freeview will allow users to browse backwards as well as forwards so they can select what they want to watch from the previous week or plan ahead. Users will also be able to pause live TV or record an entire series by pressing one button.
And audiences can use a search option to find programmes they like by genre, interest or locality.
All the Freeview and HD channels will be available, and websites such as NHS Direct, YouTube and Amazon-may also be offered. Dedicated 'applications' similar to those used by Apple's iPhone would need to be created for users to download.
There would be no charge for accessing these services, but the websites could decide to charge to download an application or for content.
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BBC joins forces with ITV to launch 'YouView' web TV service | Mail Online
Its backers claim it will 'change the way we view television forever'.
A ?200 set-top box will let viewers pause live TV, access the internet and watch a week's worth of programmes with just a few touches of a button.
YouView is billed as a successor to the Freeview box that most homes now use to access digital television.
On demand: Popular TV shows like EastEnders will be available on the channelIt is the result of a partnership between BT, BBC, ITV, BT, Channel 4, Five and TalkTalk, each of which has put in ?18million to cover the first four years of operation.
But critics and competitors yesterday said the BBC should not be using public money to position itself as a leading player in the next generation of internet and television technology.
Sky accused the corporation of expanding beyond its remit and said YouView was 'nothing short of mission creep', while Virgin Media lodged a complaint to regulator Ofcom complaining that the project was anti-competitive.
YouView chief executive Richard Halton hit back claiming the scheme provided consumers with an alternative to satellite television and would 'change the way we watch TV forever'.
He said: 'YouView is for those who decided not to pay [for a subscription service], or cannot afford to pay.
'For them to have a really fantastic subscription-free option to access catch-up services and on demand is as important as basic Freeview was in the past.'
The boxes are expected to be on sale as early as next summer.
They will be sold either on a standalone basis or as part of a package by internet service providers.
Viewers will be able to watch programmes from the main broadcasters' catch up services - BBC iPlayer, ITV.com and 4OD - on their TV set, rather than in front of a computer.
They will also be able to shop online and download music from their living rooms.
An electronic programme guide similar to that used on Freeview will allow users to browse backwards as well as forwards so they can select what they want to watch from the previous week or plan ahead. Users will also be able to pause live TV or record an entire series by pressing one button.
And audiences can use a search option to find programmes they like by genre, interest or locality.
All the Freeview and HD channels will be available, and websites such as NHS Direct, YouTube and Amazon-may also be offered. Dedicated 'applications' similar to those used by Apple's iPhone would need to be created for users to download.
There would be no charge for accessing these services, but the websites could decide to charge to download an application or for content.
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BBC joins forces with ITV to launch 'YouView' web TV service | Mail Online
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